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Andalucia is a large region of Southern Spain and is littered with historic towns and cities, each with their own sites, attractions and activities. The cities of Seville, Granada, Cadiz, Ronda and Malaga are situated in Andalucia, and are all reachable from El Cortijo should you want to pay a visit, although some are a few hours drive away. |
Below is a selection of sites and attractions all within an hour's drive from El Cortijo. Whether you are looking for a fashionable bar and restaurant in Puerto Banus, an afternoon lazing around on the beaches of Marbella, a round of golf at one of the area's many beautiful courses, or perhaps a day of whale watching in Tarifa, you should have no problems in finding the ideal place to enjoy your free time. |
ActivitiesBadminton - on site Tennis - 0.5 km Nearest restaurant - 1km Nearest Golf - 3km Nearest Beach - 8km Horse Riding - 8km |
Local TownsSan Pedro De Alcantara - 6km local beach, shops, restaurants, bars, market on thursday morning Puerto Banus - 9km marina, shops, excellent night life, restaurants, bars, zoo Marbella - 15km shops, restaurants, sandy beaches, museums, galleries, amusement park Estepona - 28km Traditional fishing port, riding centre, nature park, flea market on sunday morning Ronda - 42km ancient historic town, spa baths Malaga - 58km international airport, commercial centre of costa del sol Gibraltar - 78km international airport, Apes Algeciras - 88km Ferry to Morocco |
Sites & AttractionsThe Marbella Beaches / Water SportsMarbella has around 27 kms of beaches. Some of the most popular are in Guadalmina, Linda Vista, Rio Verdi and Puerto Banus. There a variety of water sports on most of the beaches in Marbella, including water skiing, jet skiing, parasailing and pedalos. The beaches are of different sizes, but they are all made up of the thick golden sand so typical of the Mediterranean. The sea water is notoriously clean along the Costa del Sol, which contributes to making these shores some of Europe's most beautiful. The Marbella coastline is a 15-minute drive from El Cortijo... 
Guadalmina Beach is surrounded by historic ruins from the 3rd Century and is part of an archaeoligical protectioon zone. There are two beach clubs and two bars where patrons lounge on hammocks. Wind surfing, pedal boats and jet ski's are all available to hire. 
San Pedro Alcantara Beach is a family-friendly beach measuring 1,000m. As well as many restaurants, bars, a beach club with pool and paddle tennis, and watersports, there is also a playground for children. A newly-built promenade runs along the entire length of the beach. 
Puerto Banus Beach is another one of the most popular beaches in Marbella, thanks to its many watersports, fashionable beach bars, and beautiful palm trees and golden sand. You can head off to the exclusive bars of Puerto Banus after a day in the sun. 
Marbella Venus is one of the town's few black sand beaches, situated to the East of Puerto Deportivo de Marbella. You can leave the kids in the beach playground and go lounge on the hammocks in one of the three restaurants. GolfGolf is hugely popular in the region, hence the area is spoiled with great courses. You will find many of these occupied by serious golfers taking golf package holidays, but this should not put you off experiencing these sublime courses yourself. Some clubs cater for the less-serious golfer wanting an afternoon round. 
Marbella Golf and Country Club is one of the most prestigious clubs in the area. It is just 5 minutes drive from the town of Marbella. The course is stunning but challenging too - each of the 18 holes are littered with lakes and and bunkers to give the players much to think about! 
Rio Real Golf Hotel sits just down the road from the Golf and Country club, so is also a short drive from central Marbella. The river 'Rio Real' runs through the 18-hole course, often posing a challenging obstacle. There's also the spectacular views of the Mediterranean to savour as you make you way around. Whale and Dolphin watching, Tarifa
Tarifa is a town on the Spanish mainland to the West of Gibraltar, which looks out across the Strait of Gibraltar to the North coast of Morocco. The Strait is renowned as being a fantastic place to spot whales and dolphins, so much so that The Blue Planet TV series was filmed at this location. Tarifa is also famous as a world championship wind surfing course, and is also very popular for parasailing. Marbella Gun & Country Club
If you fancy something a bit different, you can always have a go at clay pigeon shooting. This shooting club is one of the best in Europe and provides one of the most stunning backdrops to a shooting range you will ever see. Other activites on offer here are air pistol and crossbow ranges, quadbiking and horseriding. The restaurant has regular BBQ's and a carvery on Sundays. Accommodation on-site. Cuesta de la Herrera, 29110 Monda, Malaga The Picasso Museum, Malaga
5 minutes from Picassso's birthplace, this magnificent art gallery showcases much of the art from his career. Situated within the Palacio de Buenavista, there are roughly 200 works across the museum's 12 halls. The Palacio is situated in Malaga's historic town centre. Palacio de Buenavista Gibralfaro Castle, Malaga
Gibralfaro Castle is one of the oldest sites in the area and dates from the 8th century when it was originally built by the Moors. It was rebuilt in the 14th and 15th centuries and was importantly used in the Spanish Civil War. Today there is a museum within the castle explaining the history of Malaga. A wall connects the castle with the Arabic fortress, Alcazaba. Camino Gibralfaro, Malaga 29016 Alcazaba, Malaga
Built in 1057, the Alcazaba is one of the prominent features of Malaga left by its Arabic rulers of the time. It sits on the lower part of the ridge to the Gibralfaro Castle and is connected to it by a long rampart providing stunning views across Malaga. One of the most popular features of the fortress is the garden. Alhambra, Granada
The Alhambra palace and fortress is one of the most famous buildings in Andalucia. Located in the city of Granada, its first historical references arose during the war between the Arabs and Muladies in the 800s, and it has been occupied by Moors, Arabs and Christian rulers during its time. It has been developed into a complex over the centuries which incorporates a Renaissance palace, Muslim court and Moorish fortress. Today it is a museum exhibiting exquisite Islamic architecture thought to be hugely influential due to many 19th and 20th century interpretations of the building. Activities for KidsMegabowl Marbella
One of the many family attractions in town is the Megabowl. 14 lanes with electronic bumpers for younger children make for a great family day out. For the really young kids there's an indoor soft play room, plus a bar and arcade. Funny Beach
All of Marbella's many beaches are famous for the watersports they offer, but this is perhaps the most suitable for groups with Children. On the shore you have go-karting, a swimming pool, bumper boats pool and a playground, whereas the grown-ups can still go jet ski'ing and windsurfing. Crocodile Park, Torremolinos
On the Western outskirts of Malaga is this famous Crocodile Park. Go along to see some of the oldest crocs in captivity, and learn all about this fascinating pre-historic creature... C/ Cuba, 14., 29620 Torremolinos, Malaga Fuengirola Zoo
Fuengirola is a town between Marbella and Malaga. Its zoo is regarded amongst Spain's best. You can witness all sorts of species in their natural environment - the zoo is a recreation of a real life rainforest eco-system, with various zones influenced by the wildlife habitats of Madagascar, Africa and Southeast Asia. CAMILO JOSE CELA, 6, 29640 FUENGIROLA
Local TownsSeville
Seville is the cultural and financial capital of Southern Spain. It is the home to landmarks such as the Cathedral of Seville, The Alcazar, University of Seville, Plaza Espana (pictured) and the famous Torre del Oro watchtower. There are countless museums, parks and cultural events around the calendar. It can be reached by car in a little under 3 hours from the villa. Granada
One of the oldest Cities in Spain, Granada is filled with rich history and culture. It was built at the bottom of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Main attractions include the Alhambra Moorish Palace, The Palace of Charles V and Granada Cathedral. Granada is roughly a two and a half hour drive from El Cortijo. Cadiz
Cadiz is one of the principal Port Cities of South-West Spain and one of the main homes of the Spanish Navy. It is also often believed to be the oldest continually inhabited settlement in South-West Spain. The old town is famous for its delightful narrow streets and many grand plazas. Cadiz is a little over two hours from El Cortijo by car. Ronda
The historical and brethtaking town of Ronda is based 750 meters above sea level in this mountainous area of Andalucia. The town sits atop a steep canyon, which towers above the Guadalevin River. It is the home to three ancient and famous bridges spanning the canyon, as well as the oldest Bull Fighting ring in Spain. You can get to Ronda in roughly an hour by car from El Cortijo. Malaga
The important port city of Malaga is the sixth largest city in Spain. It is a key Spanish tourist destination due to its location on the popular South coast of the country, numerous historic landmarks, and its reputation as the birthplace of Pablo Picasso. The Castles of Gibralfaro and Sohail are just two of many worthwhile sites to visit in the city, which is roughly a forty-five minute drive from El Cortijo. |
Restaurants & BarsTrader Vics, Puerto Banus
Trader Vics has become a hugely popular bar and restaurant in Puerto Banus. The diverse food menu includes a wide selection of wok dishes and wood fired oven meals, and the venue has one of the most famous cocktail menus around. Located within the Alcazaba complex, the venue is surrounded by tropical gardens, pools and rivers. Urbanizacion Alcazaba, Puerto Banus, Marbella. The Beach House, Marbella
The Beach House is in the Elviria Hills part of Marbella and sits on its own sheltered part of the beach. It serves a wide selection of Spanish and International food, with the various fish dishes apparently a firm favourite. Many guests tend to use this venue as a place to spend the day - a sports club gives customers the option to do water sports around the bay, and the restaurant provides sun-recliners for just a few euros per day. www.thebeachhousemarbella.com Terra Sana, Nueva Andalucia
One of many trendy hangouts in and around Puerto Banus, Terra Sana (literally translated to 'Healthy Earth'), is set out across two floors and features an outdoor terrace. Dedicated to serving the freshest food from the best ingredients in the area, Terra Sana leaves clients feeling as healthy as can be. Look out for their 'Catch of the Day' fish dishes and shots of Vitamin C. www.terrasana.net The Marbella Club Grill
Start your evening at the Marbella Club Grill in the beautiful cocktail garden, and then move to your table to indulge in the excellent and innovative grill menu boasting both Spanish and International dishes. Waiters are on hand to guide you through the encyclopedic wine menu, and when the spectacular terrace opens in the summer months, you can see why this is one of the true gems of the Marbella restaurant scene. Crta. de Cadiz, km. 178, Marbella La Meridiana
La Meridiana serves quality Spanish cuisine from an extensive menu. The atmosphere of this restaurant is truly unique - the decorations have a very colonial feel, and the dining areas span out into some beautiful Roman gardens. Another endearing element to this place is that most of the staff have worked there since the restaurant was opened over twenty years ago, hence the service is of the highest standard. From 11pm the clientele begin to move next door to the elegant La Notte nightclub. Camino De La Cruz, Marbella Sukhothai, Marbella
This is regarded as one of the best Thai restaurants in town, and is famed for its incredibly flavoursome food. Serving a selection of oriental curries, dryer dishes and seafood, customers are spoiled for choice with what to order. The restaurant is fairly small but hugely popular, so you might want to book a table to avoid queuing. Centro Comercial, Marbellamar, L-3 A, Marbella Restaurante Messina, Marbella
A classy and exclusive restaurant celebrating the most exquisite Spanish dishes. Messina is fairly expensive but the fact that it is often packed to the rafters indicates its popularity on the Marbella dining scene. Av. Severo Ochoa, 12, Marbella, Spain Sol I Luna, Marbella
Based in the smart Las Lomas del Marbella Club, this renowned restaurant which is owned by an acclaimed Marbella restaurateur specialises in delicious Italian and Mediterranean food. It is a large venue with high ceilings and an outdoor terrace overlooking a swimming pool. Las Lomas de Marbella Club, C/Sierra Bermeja s/n, Urb. Ancon Sierra, Marbella Centre 29600 El Patio de los Perfumes, Marbella
El Patio de los Perfumes is a small and charming restuarant in the Marbella old town. They serve mainly French-influenced dishes which get rave reviews, as does the extensive wine list. Calle Aduar 1 (corner, Cale del Perral), Marbella Old Town, Marbella Centre 29600 Mumtaz, Puerto Banus
A hugely popular Indian restaurant on the sea front at Puerto Banus, enjoying views of the harbour and its array of mega yaughts. The menu is filled with delicious Indian dishes; the mixed grills seem especially popular. Benabola, Casa A, No 7, Puerto Banus 29660 Asiatico ZEN, Puerto Banus
Another popular Puerto Banus restuarant offering a combination of Chinese and Japanese food under one roof. Lunchtime menus are based around lighter meals, while guests in the evenings will enjoy a Tepanyaki show where the chef cooks everything infront of you. Calle Lirios s/n, Nueva Andalucia, Puerto Banus 29600 Tikitano, Estepona
Located between San Pedro and Estepona, Tikitano is in a quieter coastal area slightly out of town. The Head Chef brings experience from working in Michelin starred restaurants all over the globe, and so the menu is wonderfully colourful and cultural. There is a variety of live music throughout the week. Urb. Guadalmansa, Crta. de Cadiz km. 164, Estepona 29680 The Library Bar, Puerto Deportivo
An American-style cocktail bar with a vast selection of drinks including several signature drinks. They also specialise in music videos, and patrons have over 5,000 videos to chosse from. Puerto Deportivo, Nž. 64, Marbella Portside, Puerto Banus
One of the main haunts on the Puerto Banus harbour, Portside offers a wide range of fine wines, ice-cold beers and cocktails designed by their resident mixologist. At night it attracts a great crowd from all over the city.
Telephone +34 95 292 9659 Buddah Del Sol, Puerto Banus
One of the main haunts on the Puerto Banus harbour, Portside offers a wide range of fine wines, ice-cold beers and cocktails designed by their resident mixologist. At night it attracts a great crowd from all over the city.
Telephone +34 95 292 9659 |